Twenty-second Annual Assembly (1894) Unpublished Gaelic Songs, with Notes-Rev. A. Maclean Oidhche Challainn ann an Tigh a Chaiptein-Rev. D. Jottings-Legendary, Antiquarian, and Topographical— from West Kintyre-Rev. D. G. Macdonald, Killean . Twenty-third Annual Dinner (1895) The Influence of the Norse Invasion on the Language and 308260 Sketches of the Early History, Legends, and Traditions of INTRODUCTION. THIS, the 20th, Volume of the Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness contains the proceedings of a year and a half-from July, 1894, to January, 1896. The two previous volumes also covered each one and a half years, and it is proposed that the 21st Volume, which will be at once commenced, will bring the Transactions down an equal length of time, ending with our last public meeting in May. As the material for Volume 21 is practically all in hand, it is expected that no delay will occur in its production, as has been the case with the present volume; and the volume may be looked for by the beginning of the winter session. If this programme is carried out the Transactions will once again be up to date, a consummation always aimed at, though not so often realised as the Council could wish. The death-roll among the members of the Society since January, 1895, has been long. Professor John Stuart Blackie, to whom the Gaelic Renaissance is due more than to any one man, died on the 2nd March, 1895. To his energy and enthusiasm was largely due the institution of the Celtic Chair in Edinburgh; and his books on Gaelic literature and on general Highland matters have always been illuminating and stimulating. Mr Colin Chisholm, who also, like Professor Blackie, was one of the seven Honorary Chieftains of the Society, died on the 12th November, 1895. He was an old and valued member, a faithful and enthusiastic attender at all the Society's meetings, a most important contributor to its Transactions-a man of manly form and mind and of ever-genial manner. Other deaths that must be mentioned are those of Bailie Alexander Mackenzie, of Silverwells, for several years a Chieftain of the Society, and a most active business member; Mr John Mackay, "Ben Reay," whose researches into the history of the Highland regiments are of the highest value (died 14th Nov., 1896); and just lately two good members have been removed-Mr John Noble, bookseller, of Inverness, who as collector and dispenser of Gaelic works was unrivalled; and Mr Duncan Forbes of Culloden, the genial representative of an illustrious ancestry. In home literature a good few books fall to be mentioned. In pure Gaelic work we have first our assistant secretary, Mr Alex. Macdonald, who has enriched the poetic literature of the Gael by his Còinneach is Coille. The second volume of the "Song-smith of Harris," Morrison's poems, has appeared under the editorial supervision of Dr George Henderson, who also shows much activity in contributing to the weekly journals excellent Gaelic matter. Rev. A. Maclean Sinclair has also added another volume to his "Gaelic Bards." The increased attention given in schools to Gaelic has produced quite a crop of Gaelic textual works. An excellent "Gaelic Grammar" has been published by Dr H. C. Gillies, who has set himself to bring Stewart's work up to date, and has succeeded. He has since published a shilling exercise book to accompany it. Mr Duncan Reid's Course of Gaelic Grammar has been almost two years in the field, and has been found a very practical work. Just lately Mr John Whyte published a shilling volume entitled "How to Read Gaelic," where Gaelic lessons and a concise Gaelic Grammar, the accuracy of which is beyond suspicion, claim inter alia to admirably suit the first stage of the Code Work. Mr Macbain's Etymological Dictionary of the Gaelic Language is worthy to take its place . beside any similar work done for any modern language in Europe; it is severely scientific, and evidently the result of much. research and painstaking. In the domain of historical literature four or five works of first-class excellence have appeared since January, 1895. Not to appear invidious we shall take them in the order of time. Mr Alexander Mackenzie has "pegged out" another claim to be "The Clan Historian." This time he gives us the History of the Frasers, certainly the largest of his works, and, according to some good judges, the best. The first volume of Clan Donald, by the Revs. A. Macdonald, of Killearnan and |